Type-cleaning brush for type-writing machines



(No Model.)

F. VAN FLEET. TYPE CLEANING BRUSH FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

Patented Aug. 11, 18 91.

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. UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

FRED VAN FLEET, OFW'ILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

TYPE-CLEANING BRUSH FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters iatent No. 457,684, dated August11, 1891. Application filed February 26, 1891i- Serial No. 382,902. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED VAN FLEET, a citizen of the United States,residing at Villiamsport, in the county of Lycoming and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inType-Oleaning Brushes for Type-Writing Machines; and

I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

The chief object of this invention is to provide for cleaning the typesof a type-writing machine bymeans of a brush turning axially through theplane of the type-opening and across the faces of the types, the saidbrush being of such shape with relation'to the outline of the saidtype-opening that each motion of the said brush on its axis may cleanall of the types at the same time.

My invention consists, broadly, in a brush thus constructed andarranged, in combination with actuating devices operating it, as abovestated.

The said invention also consists, more specifically, in mechanismfor-oscillating the said brush on its axis, in the combination, withsaid brush and actuating mechanism, of stops for limiting its axialmotion, and in certain additional features of construction andcombination, hereinafter particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation ofthe brush and its operating and supporting devices, the nor mal positionbeing shown in'full lines and the extreme positions of oscillation indotted lines, the type-ring in section. Fig. 2 represents a plan View ofthe same. Fig. 3 represents a detail plan view of the stop-plate, andFig. 4 represents a similar view of a modification of the latter.

A designates the type-cleaning brush, in the present instance ofelliptical outline, but which may vary in shape to suit a diifen entform of type-opening. The types B on the type-bars b and within thetype-ring 0 present, as shown, a corresponding elliptical outline. Thesaid brush is provided with a central plate a, in the center of which isa raised block D, having an opening through it, so that it may besleeved on the shaft or brush-rod E and clamped thereto adj ustably by ascrew d. This shaft or rod E is horizontal, being journaled in a longfixed tubular bearing F, outside of which it is furnished with acrank-arm G and handle I-I. Then this handle is turned in eitherdirection out of the position shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 2,'thebrush turning with said rod, which practically corresponds to itslongitudinal axis, necessarily sweeps over the faces of the type,crossing in doing so the plane of the type-opening, so thatsimultaneously one half of-the type will be swept by one side of thebrush going up and the other half of the type will be swept by the otherside of the brush going down.

To hold the brush normally in its position of inaction, I employ aspring I, wound around the rod or shaft E, with its outer end againstthe bearing F and its inner end pressing inwardly against a shoulder orcollar 2, fast on the said rod or shaft. 1 also provide thesupporting-standard J ,of the bearing F with an outwardly-extendingstop-plate K. The outer face It at right angles to said rod or shaft,and under the outer end of it a rearwardlyinclined face on one side ofsaid face It, and a shoulder k on the other side thereof. When thehandle H is turned into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the spring1, bearing inwardly against shoulder or collar 6, holds the crankarm Gagainstthe middle face k of the edge of the said stop-plate withsufficientforce to prevent accidental displacement. Said crankarm isthenvertical and the'brush horizontal. To free the said brush fortype-cleaning, I then wardly-inclined face 70'. The latter permitspressure of the spring I, so that the latter is relaxed. There is now noobstacle to turnbrush from side to side, the limit of motion in onedirection being the said inclined face 70 and in the other direction thestop 10 Between these two limits the brush may be 05- cillated asrapidly or as slowly as desired and as often. Its positions when at theextremes of oscillation are indicated by dotted lines.

edge of this stop-plate is constructed with a move the handle I-Isidewise, so that the crank arm G slips off the middle face'k to therearthe shaft or rod E to move inward under the ing the said handle,crank-arm, shaft, and

Then the brush is to be restored to its normal position, the crank-arm Gis pressed laterally against the inclined face it, so as to ride up saidface and in front of the middle face it, as before, drawing outwardlythe shaft or rod E against the pressure of the spring I during thismotion.

WVhen the modification shown in Fig. 4 is employed, having two squareoutwardly-extending stops 10 k with the face It between them and noinclined face 70', the handle, crank-arm, and shaft are pulledoutwardly, so that said crank-arm will be beyond the said lugs or stops10 k this action being necessary as well when the said crank-arm is tobe restored to its normal position against face it and between stops 1070 as when the brush is to be operated for type-cleaning. The spring Ioperates, as before explained, to hold it in its normal position. Inthis modification the stop 70 answers the same purpose as the inclinedface or stop it, before described, in limiting axial 1n0vement,'but ofcourse atfords no aid in replacing the moving parts in their position ofinaction, and is indeed an obstacle thereto, as well as to the beginningof operative axial motion.

The standard J maybe clamped to the frame of the machine in anyconvenient way. I have shown a screw L for this purpose.

The eccentric attachment of the brush that is to say, its attachment tothe shaft so as to be held at a slight distance from the axial line ofthe latterallows it to be thrown up into the type-basket as the shaftturns without the said shaft interfering in any way.

I do not confine myself to the specific devices shown and described forholding the brush in its normal position of inactivity.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A type-cleaning brush for a type-writing machine, in combination witha shaft on which it is mounted to turn through the plane of thetype-opening, stops for limiting the turning of the said shaft and brushin either direction, and a handle for oscillating the said shaft andbrush, substantially as set forth.

2. A type-cleaning brush for atype-writing machine, in combination witha shaft on which it is mounted to turn through the typeopening, a springoperating to force the 'said shaftand brush inward, stops forpreventingthe turning of said brush in either direction beyond a certainpoint, and a handle for oscillating the said brush, substantially as setforth.

3. A type-cleaning brush for atype-writing machine, in combination witha shaft on which it is'mounted to turn through the type-open ing, acrank-arm and handle for operating the said brush, a spring operating topress the said brush and shaft inward, and a fixed stop-plate having aface 70, against which the said crank-arm is pressed by the action ofthe said spring to hold the said brush in its normal inactive position,substantially as set forth.

at. A type-cleanin g brush for a type-writing machine, in combinationwith a shaft on which it is mounted to turn through the typeopening, anarm of said shaft, a handle for operating the said brush, a spring formoving inward the said brush-shaft and crank, a stop-plate having a faceIt, against which the said arm is held by the said spring, and also arearwardly-inclined face is, operating by contact with the moving arm torestore the.

parts to their normal position, substantially as set forth.

5. A type-cleaning brush fora type-writin g machine, in combination witha shaft on which it is mounted to turn through the typeopening, an armon said shaft, a stop-plate having a middle face 70, arearwardly-inclined face It, and a projecting stop 16*, arranged asshown and described, and a spring operating to move the said brush andshaft inward, so as to hold the said arm against the said middle face inits position of inaction, the said stop-plate and arm limiting themotion of the said brush on its axis to oscillation, substantially asset forth.

6. In combination with the types of a typewriting machine, atype-cleaning brush adapted tobe oscillated on its axis through theplane of the type-opening and devices for so operating it, and stops forlimiting its motion to oscillation, the said brush conforming in shapeto said type-opening or to such a part thereof that each oscillationwill cause the brush to pass over all the type, for the purpose setforth.

7. In combination with the type-cleaning brush operating by axialmotion, stops for retaining and holding the brush at rest automaticallyor otherwise in its normal position of inactivity.

8. In combination with a type -cleaning brush and its shaft, a springadapted to exert pressure on said shaft or its attachments in adirection parallel with the axis of said shaft, for the purpose setforth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

FRED VAN FLEET. Witnesses:

J. H. ULMER, J. W. SMITH.

